Tackle Box’s Cleveland Park location to open May 9

Update: Tackle Box will open June 2, owner Jonathan Umbel said in an email.

Casual seafood restaurant Tackle Box has started construction in its Cleveland Park location and is aiming for a May 9 opening.

The restaurant will have two floors seating 150, plus a 15-seat bar and a raw bar, The Feast reported (click through for multiple photos of the interior). Construction started this month, though it got its first permit in July, owner Jonathan Umbel said.

Tackle Box, which describes itself as a “lobster shack” on its website, opened its Georgetown location in 2008 next door to the more formal seafood restaurant Hook, which has the same owner. The Cleveland Park location will be much larger than the one on M Street.

The new location will be the only seafood restaurant between Dupont and Chevy Chase circles, The Feast said. It will be “stroller-friendly,” to attract families going to and from the National Zoo. Umbel hopes to install a garden on the roof to grow some of the produce the restaurant will need.

Tackle Box’s 3407 Connecticut Ave. building has sat vacant for years since McDonald’s left. Multiple restaurants have been proposed for the space over that time, including a diner and an Argentine restaurant.

The Tackle Box is probably the worst restauarnt in Cleveland Park – have been there five times hoping it gets better – greasy, over salted, food – the fact that you have to pay for sauce is rediculous! Expensive bad food served on plastic which you have to eat with cheap plasticware – and your hush puppies are HORRIBLE! If you’re going to serve southern food at least get it right!